Planning a getaway this summer? Whether you’re headed to the Indiana Dunes for a long weekend or leaving Northwest Indiana entirely, taking a few minutes to secure your home before vacation can save you from coming back to a bad surprise. An empty house is an easy target, and most break-ins happen through doors and windows that simply weren’t locked or weren’t locked well. Here’s a practical checklist from a local locksmith’s point of view.
Start With Every Door and Window
It sounds obvious, but walk the whole house before you leave. Check the back door, the garage entry door, the basement windows, and the sliding patio door. These are the entry points people forget. A sliding door should have a secondary lock or at least a security bar in the track, because the factory latch alone is easy to defeat.
While you’re at it, test each deadbolt. If the bolt doesn’t extend fully into the strike plate, or you have to lift or pull the door to lock it, that’s a sign the lock or the door alignment needs attention before you go.
Secure Your Home Before Vacation by Dealing With Spare Keys
The fake rock by the porch and the key under the mat are the first places anyone looks. Before you leave, bring outdoor spare keys inside. If a neighbor or family member is watching the house, hand them a key directly instead of hiding one.
If you’ve lost track of who has copies of your key over the years — old roommates, contractors, a previous pet sitter — a quick rekey before a long trip gives you a clean slate. Only the people you choose will have working keys.
Make the House Look Lived In
A dark house with a stuffed mailbox announces that nobody’s home. Put a couple of lamps on timers, pause your mail and packages or have a neighbor collect them, and arrange for the lawn to be mowed if you’ll be gone more than a week. In neighborhoods around Gary, Merrillville, and Crown Point, an overflowing porch of deliveries is one of the most common giveaways.
Don’t Broadcast Your Trip
Save the beach photos until you’re back. Posting real-time vacation updates tells everyone your house is empty, and that information travels further than most people think. Share the highlights after you’re home with the doors locked behind you.
A Quick Lock Check Goes a Long Way
If any lock in your home sticks, wobbles, or hasn’t been changed since you moved in, take care of it before you pack the car. It’s a small job that buys real peace of mind while you’re away.
Need locks checked, rekeyed, or upgraded before your trip? Jacob’s Lock and Key serves Gary and all of Northwest Indiana — including Hammond, Merrillville, Crown Point, Schererville, and Portage — 7 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week. Call (219) 342-5595 and travel with one less thing to worry about.
Last updated: 07/12/2026